Page 135 of Dust to Dust

“I’m sure you think I kidnapped you to try to draw Quinn out to have some epic showdown. But that wasn’t my intention.”

When a malicious thought entered my mind, I stumbled back over to the chair and sat down. “You’re going to make me kill him,” I choked out.

Mikita’s eyes widened. “While it’s an intriguing idea and one I wish I’d thought of, that is not my intention.”

A relieved breath whooshed out of me. I thanked God for small mercies that I wouldn’t be expected to choose my family over Quinn.

“I don’t want Quinn dead.”

I furrowed my brows. “You don’t?”

“No. I want him alive, so he can suffer.”

Fear once again twisted in my chest. “What do you plan to do to him?”

“Actually, it’s what you’re going to do to him.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You’re going to leave him.”

“What?”

Mikita grinned. “The lone wolf has a mate. To make him suffer, I need to remove the mate. I’ll be honest that I did think of killing you at first. But then I realized that was too easy. While you worried I would make you physically kill Quinn, you’re going to emotionally kill him.”

“No, no, no,” I moaned.

“Yes, Ms. Vaughn, you’re going to leave him. You’re going to tell him you can’t be with someone who endangers the ones you love, yourself included. I don’t really care what you say as long as you deliver the blow.”

“Please, don’t make me do this!”

“You’ll do good to remember I’m sparing your life, Ms. Vaughn. If I kill you now, nothing will stop me from taking your sister and nephew.”

His words had the same effect as if he was slapping me across the face. In some ways, I wished he would’ve just beat me. At least the pain would have an outlet then. I could bleed and break. It was now all contained in my mind.

My chest was constricted in a vise so tight I couldn’t breathe. I wanted so much to weep to get rid of the agony, but I couldn’t. I just jerked and shook all over. The last time I’d felt this way was when I came back into consciousness in the ER and a nurse with tears in her eyes told me my parents were dead.

I don’t know how long I sat in torment, staring ahead and trembling uncontrollably. A voice broke through the torture. “Do we have a deal, Ms. Vaughn?”

“If I promise this, you won’t hurt me or my family.”

“You have my word.”

“This will be the only revenge you seek against the Kavanaughs or Caterina’s brothers?”

“I’m afraid this deal relates only to Quinn and me. Whatever retaliation they seek, I’ll have to deal with.” He pursed his lips. “Unless you can convince Quinn not to.”

“If it means you won’t hurt any of them, I will. I swear it.”

“You’re a remarkable woman, Ms. Vaughn. I hate that we had to meet under these circumstances.”

I didn’t respond. Instead I kept staring at the wall in front of me. The next thing I knew Mikita jerked my arm. “What are you doing?” I demanded.

“Just giving you a nice sedative, so you’ll sleep through the drop off.”

“You’re letting me go?”

“Since you’re willing to cooperate, there’s no need for you to stay any longer.” He tilted his head at me. “Unless you would like to join me for dinner?”

---